Wall Street 400 Q's (Non-technical)
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1. I realize it's still If you're interviewing for an Analyst position, you can be more uncertain about
early in your ca- your future and just state you don't know 100% where you'll be yet, but banking
reer - you haven't is what excites you most and is what will give you the skills you need to succeed.
even graduated For prospective Associates, you need to be more certain about your career path
yet - but have and show some commitment - indicate you've done your homework, spoken with
you given any many people and really want to make a career out of it.
thought to your
long-term plans?
Do you think
you'll stick with
investment bank-
ing?
2. What were a few The 2 most important points to remember with the "weaknesses" / "failure"
areas that your question:
team said you 1. Give a real weakness rather than saying you "work too hard."
should try to im- 2. Show how you improved on it, using specific examples.
prove upon? What are "real" weaknesses you could give? Maybe you weren't as communicative
with the team as you should have been at the start; maybe you got lost in the details
sometimes and failed to see the big picture; maybe you were too impatient with
others or did not delegate tasks appropriately.
The point is to say something that is a real weakness but which is also not a "deal-
breaker" - like saying you don't like to work hard or can't stand working in teams.
After that, state how you're working to improve your weakness. Perhaps you gave
more regular updates to your superiors; or maybe you started leveraging other
peoples' knowledge or the administrative staff at your work more often.
3. Let's imagine This is just, "Tell me your strengths" in disguise, but you need to narrow it down
that your best to 3 words. Since it's your friend describing you, you don't want to say, "Driven,
friend is describ- attentive to detail and a team player!"
ing you in 3 You do want to convey the same ideas - that you can work hard, play well in teams,
words - which and get things done no matter what obstacles you face - but you should pick your
, Wall Street 400 Q's (Non-technical)
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53cbf8
words would own language to get this across.
he/she use and For each word you list you should also give 1-2 sentences to back up what you say,
why? using a specific example for each one.
4. Imagine that This is just a disguised "weaknesses" question. However, since it involves someone
I'm speaking to else this time, it's better to give a weakness such as being stubborn and holding
someone with too rigidly to your own views rather than some of the other faults you could state.
whom you have Weaknesses related to team/group settings are better here.
not gotten along And once again, you need to emphasize how you've worked to improve whatever
in the past - what it is that you did not do well at the time.
would he/she say Don't say something like, "I get along with everyone!" as that sounds unrealistic.
about you?
5. Why would we This one is a bit tricky because it's so direct. You could attempt to make a joke out
decide not to give of this one and say something like, "If you decided you weren't hiring at all!" but
you an offer to- that may not go well if your interviewer doesn't appreciate humor.
day? Otherwise, the best response may be to turn this around and say, "I see no reason
why you wouldn't - I'm your best choice because...." and then give your strengths
instead.
6. Tell me why we This is yet another variation of the "strengths" question. But rather than giving
should hire you in generic strengths, you should highlight any unique experiences you've had. So
3 sentences. maybe you haven't had banking internships before - but you have had unique
experience abroad, in an unusual setting, or doing something not many others
have done, or you've overcome unusual hardship - and those make you particularly
well-qualified.
Try to make your answer some variant of "I'm smart because of [School / Acad-
emics], I can do the work because of [Internships / Previous Jobs], and I'm an
interesting person and fun to be around because of [Unique Experience]."
7. What was your As with any "weaknesses" question, you need to use a specific story - such as an
greatest failure? exam where you did not do well, a project that did not go as planned, or a work
situation that did not turn out well - and show what you learned from it and how
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53cbf8
1. I realize it's still If you're interviewing for an Analyst position, you can be more uncertain about
early in your ca- your future and just state you don't know 100% where you'll be yet, but banking
reer - you haven't is what excites you most and is what will give you the skills you need to succeed.
even graduated For prospective Associates, you need to be more certain about your career path
yet - but have and show some commitment - indicate you've done your homework, spoken with
you given any many people and really want to make a career out of it.
thought to your
long-term plans?
Do you think
you'll stick with
investment bank-
ing?
2. What were a few The 2 most important points to remember with the "weaknesses" / "failure"
areas that your question:
team said you 1. Give a real weakness rather than saying you "work too hard."
should try to im- 2. Show how you improved on it, using specific examples.
prove upon? What are "real" weaknesses you could give? Maybe you weren't as communicative
with the team as you should have been at the start; maybe you got lost in the details
sometimes and failed to see the big picture; maybe you were too impatient with
others or did not delegate tasks appropriately.
The point is to say something that is a real weakness but which is also not a "deal-
breaker" - like saying you don't like to work hard or can't stand working in teams.
After that, state how you're working to improve your weakness. Perhaps you gave
more regular updates to your superiors; or maybe you started leveraging other
peoples' knowledge or the administrative staff at your work more often.
3. Let's imagine This is just, "Tell me your strengths" in disguise, but you need to narrow it down
that your best to 3 words. Since it's your friend describing you, you don't want to say, "Driven,
friend is describ- attentive to detail and a team player!"
ing you in 3 You do want to convey the same ideas - that you can work hard, play well in teams,
words - which and get things done no matter what obstacles you face - but you should pick your
, Wall Street 400 Q's (Non-technical)
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_53cbf8
words would own language to get this across.
he/she use and For each word you list you should also give 1-2 sentences to back up what you say,
why? using a specific example for each one.
4. Imagine that This is just a disguised "weaknesses" question. However, since it involves someone
I'm speaking to else this time, it's better to give a weakness such as being stubborn and holding
someone with too rigidly to your own views rather than some of the other faults you could state.
whom you have Weaknesses related to team/group settings are better here.
not gotten along And once again, you need to emphasize how you've worked to improve whatever
in the past - what it is that you did not do well at the time.
would he/she say Don't say something like, "I get along with everyone!" as that sounds unrealistic.
about you?
5. Why would we This one is a bit tricky because it's so direct. You could attempt to make a joke out
decide not to give of this one and say something like, "If you decided you weren't hiring at all!" but
you an offer to- that may not go well if your interviewer doesn't appreciate humor.
day? Otherwise, the best response may be to turn this around and say, "I see no reason
why you wouldn't - I'm your best choice because...." and then give your strengths
instead.
6. Tell me why we This is yet another variation of the "strengths" question. But rather than giving
should hire you in generic strengths, you should highlight any unique experiences you've had. So
3 sentences. maybe you haven't had banking internships before - but you have had unique
experience abroad, in an unusual setting, or doing something not many others
have done, or you've overcome unusual hardship - and those make you particularly
well-qualified.
Try to make your answer some variant of "I'm smart because of [School / Acad-
emics], I can do the work because of [Internships / Previous Jobs], and I'm an
interesting person and fun to be around because of [Unique Experience]."
7. What was your As with any "weaknesses" question, you need to use a specific story - such as an
greatest failure? exam where you did not do well, a project that did not go as planned, or a work
situation that did not turn out well - and show what you learned from it and how
